Outgoing President Martin Kennedy was steadfast in his praise of Scottish agriculture during his speech at the NFUS Autumn conference.

In his final conference address Mr Kennedy called upon officials to award proper credit towards Scottish farmers and crofters for their world leading green credentials.

In front of a full house of delegates Mr Kennedy hailed the hard work and dedication of Scotland rural workforce to implement greener practice, calling out corporations for taking unjustifiable credit.

MORE NEWS | £30 AgDiversity course to promote diversity in farming

MORE NEWS | Volunteers revive historic Druimnashallag bothy

He said: “Whether that’s green washing with big businesses buying into our carbon credits with no scruples and, more importantly, not actually doing anything meaningful to reduce their own failings.

“Or even worse, watching on as ‘rewilding initiatives driven by so called environmentalists are forced to sell land to pay off debts accrued by purchasing other land rewilding using taxpayers’ money.”

Suggesting that those behind such initiatives lack the understanding of how to retain and sustain fruitful, rural communities and fail to factor in potential consequences of such projects.

“The reality is, with some relatively small improvements to our current farming and crofting methods, we will deliver far more outcomes than any rewilding project that simply depopulates vast areas of land,” he said in defence of the rural communities he feels are being overlooked.

Mr Kennedy, who’s tenure as NFUS President will come to an end in February, used his speech to call for the revival of beef suckler cow numbers and implored the government to supply a clear timeline on the reinstatement of finance taken from the rural portfolio.

When posing the question of money to Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie MSP, Mr Kennedy was left unsatisfied with a response of “I can’t give you a timeline at this moment.”

With a remaining £46m due to be returned before 2026, Mr Kennedy highlighted the importance of this monies return in safeguarding and future proofing many businesses.

In a moment of reflection Mr Kennedy said: “Not everything that we’re doing as farmers and crofters is perfect, far from it. But we must take every opportunity available to not only make changes that will make a difference to all our futures (…) but also applaud and reward a lot of current good practice that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.

He concluded his speech by referencing the upcoming budget, once again emphasising the UK governments responsibility to provide a robust funding package that will assist Scottish farmers in delivering everything that society asks of it.